Emergency crisis over, pope on oxygen after quite night

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 23 - The emergency reported Saturday, when Pope Francis suffered a respiratory crisis, is substantially over after he spent a quiet night at the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Vatican sources said on Sunday.
    The pontiff, however, is continuing to receive high flows of oxygen to help him breathe, they said. The oxygen is administered through 'nostrils'.
    More clinical tests were conducted on Sunday morning and a new medical update will be released in the evening, the sources said. In the pontiff's Angelus address published as a written text Sunday, he encouraged deacons to continue their service joyfully and with love and expressed his gratitude to the doctors and healthcare workers caring for him and for the patients in hospital.
    "I continue confidently with my stay at the Gemelli Polyclinic, receiving the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!", said the pope.
    "I sincerely thank the doctors and healthcare workers at this hospital for the attention they are showing me" and "for the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick", he noted.
    In the text of the Angelus, the pontiff also recalled that "tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the large-scale war against Ukraine", calling it a "painful and shameful" anniversary for humanity.
    While expressing closeness to the Ukrainian population, the pontiff urged to remember the "victims of all armed conflicts and pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, in Israel, in the entire Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu and in Sudan".
    Early on Sunday, the Vatican Press Office said the pope had spent a quiet night and rested at the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli Hospital.
    The morning update came after the Vatican said on Saturday evening that the pontiff had suffered a respiratory crisis and his condition remained critical.
    "The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical", said the evening bulletin.
    "Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger.
    "This morning, Pope Francis presented a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which also required the application of high-flow oxygen", the Vatican said Saturday evening.
    "Today's blood tests moreover showed a thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions", it continued.
    The Vatican however said the pontiff continued to remain alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he was "more uncomfortable than yesterday".
    "At the moment, the prognosis is reserved", the bulletin concluded.
    The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Februaty 14 with bronchitis which turned into pneumonia in both lungs. (ANSA).